Twisting apparatus



Aug. 23, 1949. E, D. HANSON ETAL TWISTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Oct. 18, 1946 m T m V N l .5. 0. HA NSO/V a. EHENN/NG 0. a. NELSONATTORNEY 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 23, 1949. E. o. HANSON ETAL TWISTINGAPPARATUS Filed on. 1a, 1946 6 WW y S E m N AMH m M HN w A EQO Aug. 23,1949.

Filed Oct. 18 1946 E. D. HANSON ET AL TWISTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet3 A 7' TORNEV E. D. HANSON ETAL 2,479,928

TWISTING APPARATUS Filed 001,- 18, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 F/G'Z INVENTORS2 "a. E. 0. HANSON 15 w c. E. HENN/NG 0. cwasow ATTORNEY Patented Aug.23, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TWISTING APPARATUS Estyle D.Hanson, George E. Kenning, and Oscar G. Nelson, Baltimore, Md.,assignors to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application October 18, 1946, Serial No. 704,132

8 Claims.

1 This invention relates to twisting apparatus and more particularly toflyer type twisting apparatus for forming multiconductor cordage of thetype used extensively in communication equipment.

- Many types of multiconductor cords and cables are used in thecommunication field. Also it is sometimes desirable to use a pluralityof insulated conductors that are twisted together into groups, usuallyin pairs. In the manufacture of communication cords and cables, theconductors frequently are twisted together to form a core over which isapplied a suitable jacket made of a vulcanized material, such as arubber or synthetic rubber-like compound, or of a suitable textilmaterial, such as'a braid.

Various types of apparatus have been designed for twisting conductorstogether to form cordage or cores of cables, or to form groups ofindividually insulated conductors. It is desirable that such twistingapparatus be as compact as possible, and that means be provided thereinfor advancing the conductors therethrough at a uniform rate and withoutslippage. It is also important that the various elements of theapparatus be so designed that the desired type of twisting isaccomplished. It is particularly important in twisting apparatus used tomake what is known as "close spiral, flexible cordage that no slippageoccurs as the conductors are being twisted together, and that the pointat which the twist is given to the conductors be controlled accurately.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedtwistingapparatus.

One type of twisting apparatus embodying the invention comprises ahorizontal type fiyer unit rotatable about its central axis and having atwisting head thereon for twisting together a plurality of conductors toform a composite core, means for serving a textile covering around thecomposite core to form a core unit, a pair of driven capstans disposedwithin the fiyer unit for advancing the conductors to the twisting head,means on the central axis of the fiyer unit for supporting a takeupreel, and traversing means carried by the flyer unit for distributingthe composite core unit in even layers on the takeup reel.

A clear understanding of the invention may be obtained from thefollowing detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof, whenread in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a portion of a twistl 2 ing apparatusforming a specific embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation constituting a continuation of Fig. 1 andshowing the remaining portion of the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, sectional view of aportion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, vertical, sectional view taken along line 4-4 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken along line 5-5of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, vertical, sectional view of a portion of theapparatus shown in Fig. l, and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the apparatus shown in Fig.6.

The twisting apparatus described hereinbelow is designed to formfour-conductor close spiral cordage. However, this apparatus may bemodified to form various types of multiconductor cordage and cables.

Referring to the drawings, it will be noted by reference to Fig. 1, thata plurality of individually insulated conductors Ill-Ill (in this casefour) are being withdrawn from a suitable supply (not shown) anddirected over a plurality of rotatable guide pulleys l'2-l2 forming partof a guide unit II, which pulleys direct the conductors l0l0 sharplytoward a twisting head l3 provided on a rotatable flyer unit I. Thetwisting head I3 is rotatable with the fiyer unit I4 and twists theconductors Ill-Ill together spirally around a textile cord I! so as toform a composite core [6. The core i6 is advanced through acentralaperture provided in a serving head I! by the aid of which a textilecovering is served around the composite core ii to form a textilecovered core unit l8. 7

The core unit l8 next advances through an elongated bore provided in atrunnion I9 formed integrally with the flyer unit It and then isdirected to apair of driven capstans 20 and II spacedly positioned inthe fiyer. The core unit l8 passes alternatelyaround substantialportions of the peripheries of the capstans 20 and 2| (Fig. l) apredetermined number of times and then is directed from the capstan 20directly to a guide pulley 22 provided on the opposite side of the flyerunit I. The core unit It passes directly from the pulley 22 to a pulley23 rotatably mounted on a distributor nut 24, which serves to distributethe core unit I8 evenly on a reel 25 rotatably supported within theflyer unit It and along the central axis thereof.

The guide unit ll (Figs. 1 and '7) comprises a tors Ill-l approaches thetwisting head |3 at a relatively sharp angle. A restraining member 29 isadjustably positioned on the central axis of vided therein for engagingthe conductors |l|-||| at the point at which they are twisted togetherpoint with respect to the pulleys |2-|2 and the twisting head l3. |2-|2close to the twisting head, the twisting head is able to twist theconductors together so that the individual spirals'of the core l6 formedthereby lay against each other throughout the core. By holding thetwisting point in a fixed position, a uniform twist is imparted to theconductors throughout the core. The serving head |1 consists of a rotor3| rotatably mounted on a hub 32 centrally secured on the base plate 21.A plurality of strand supply cops 33-33 are rotatably mounted on therotor from which strands 34-34 are withdrawn and served spirally aroundthe composite core l6 to form the textile covered core unit l8 when therotor is rotated. A more complete description of the conductor guidingmember II and the serving head I1 is given in copending applicationSerial No. 704,157, filed October 18, 1946, now Patent No. 2,475,427,July 1949, by G. E. Henning.

The flyer unit l4 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) consists of a pair of spaced endmembers 35 and 36 and a pair of elongated tubular support members 31 and38, which have their extremities securely clamped to the extremities ofthe end members 35 and 36 to form a rigid rectangular frame. The fiyerunit I4 is rotatably mounted between a pair of spaced standards 40 and4| provided on the frame of the apparatus by means of the hollowtrunnion l9 formed integrally with the end member 25 and a hollowtrunnion 42 formed integrally with the end member 36. The trunnion 42has a sprocket. 43 keyed thereto which engages a chain belt 44 connectedto a sprocket 45 keyed to a motor shaft 46 driven by a main motor 41.

The motor 41 is arranged to drive the fiyer unit l4 in a clockwisedirection as indicated by the arrow (Fig. 4), which direction twists theconductors |l-| ll tightly together so that the spirals of theindividual conductors lay against each other in the twisted core I6 andare formed in the direction shown in Fig. '7. The shaft 46 extends overand drives a change gear mechanism 50 and a variable speed reducer 5|.The speed reducer 5| is arranged to rotate the serving head rotor 3| bymeans of a. belt 52 and a pulley 53 keyed thereto in the same directionas the flyer unit [4, but at a rate of speed substantially greater thanthat of the fiyer unit thereby enabling the rotor 3| to spirally servethe strands 34-34 around the rotating core 16.

A housing 55 (Figs. 1 and 4) integrally formed on the upper end of theend member 35 has formed therein an upper circular depression 56, alower circular depression 51 and a bore 60 in the wall section of thehousing 55 between the depressions 56 and 51. A stud 6|, having a, shortbody por- By positioning the pulleys,

' the guiding unit I and has a conical end 36 pro- 1 stud 6| may berigidly secured to the housing 55 so that the body portion 64 iscentrally positioned within its associated depression.

The capstan 20 is rotatably mounted on the body portion 64 of the stud6|positioned in the depression 51 by a pair of annular bearings 1|-1|positioned in counterbores provided on a hub portion 12 of the capstan20. The periphery of the capstan 20 is provided with four semicirculargrooves 13-13 arranged to receive the core unit |8 as it passes aroundthe capstans 20 and serves to hold the twisting point at a fixed tion62, a shoulder portion 63 and a long body and'Zl on its way to thetakeup reel 25. The capstan 2| is rotatably mounted on the body portion64 of the stud 6| secured in the circular depression 56 in the samemanner described above for the capstan 20. The capstan 2|, however, 'hasonly three semicircular grooves 16-16 provided on its periphery fordirecting the core unit l8 to the takeup reel 25.

The core unit I8 passes through a central bore 19 provided in a trunnionI9 of the end member 35 (Fig. 4) and enters the left hand groove l3 ofthe capstan 20, passes around the lower portion of this groove and thenis directed under the capstan 2| and into the left hand groove 16 of thecapstan 2| and around the upper portion of the groove 16. The core unitIii is directed from the groove 16 into the second groove 13 of thecapstan 20, and so on until the core unit I8 passes alternately aroundthe lower portion of the second and third grooves of the capstan 20 andaround the upper portion of the second and third grooves of the capstan2|. The core unit l8 then.

passes from the third groove of the capstan 2| into the fourth grooveprovided in the capstan 20, which groove is vertically aligned with aperipheral groove provided on the pulley 22. The semicircular grooves13-13 and 16-16 are spaced on the face of the capstans 20 and 2|,respectively, so as to prevent the various portions of the core unit l8from rubbing against each other, as the core unit passes alternatelyback and forth around portions of the capstans 20 and 2 I, and toprovide the maximum contacting surface between the core unit l8 and thecapstans.

The capstan 20 is provided with a flange 11, which slidably engages theface of the wall of the circular depression 51 and a felt ring 18 seatedin an annular groove provided in the face of the aforementioned wall.The capstan 2| is provided with a hub portion 8|, which likewiseslidably engages the face of the wall of the depression 56 and a feltring 82 positioned in an annular groove 83 provided in the wall.Thecapstans 26 and 2| are maintained on the body portion 63 of theirrespective studs 6l-6l by means of nuts threadedly mounted on the endsof the body portions and are thereby maintained against the felt rings18 and 82 positioned in the walls of the depressions 56 and 51. Abevelled ring gear 66 is centrallypositioned on each of the capstans 20and 2| (Figs. 1 and 4), and each ring gear meshes with a bevelled pinion85 secured on the extremities of a shaft 86 rotatably mounted in thevertical bore 60 by antifriction bearings 81-81 positioned incounterbores located at opposite ends of the bore 60.

The ring gear 84 positioned on the capstan 20 also meshes with abevelled pinion 90 positioned within the depression 51 "and secured onthe end of a shaft 9| freely rotatable in the housing 55 and extendinghorizontally from the depression 51 so that its left end projects beyondthe left side of the end member 35. A pinion 92 is secured on the leftend of the shaft 9| which pinion 35. The idler gear 33 in turn mesheswith a ring gear 94 rotatably mounted on the trunnion I9 between thestandard 4| and the end member 35. A sprocket 95 is keyed on the hub ofthe ring gear 94 and engages a chain belt 98 connected to an outputsprocket of the change gear mechanism 50 which receives its power fromthe motor 41 through the shaft 48.

The system of gears 92, 93 and 34 (Figs. 1 and 4) is arranged tocooperate with the bevelled pinion 90, which engages the bevelled ringgear 94 secured to the capstan 20, and drives the capstan 20 in acounterclockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow thereon, at aconstant rate of speed. The capstan 20 in turn drives the capstan 2| ina clockwise direction by means of the bevelled pinions 8585 secured onthe shaft 95 and the bevelled ring gear 84 secured on the capstan 2|..Obviously, th system of gears including the gear 93 may be arranged torotate the capstans in the proper direction when the flyer is rotatedfaster or slower than the ring gear 94' driven by the change gearmechanism 50.

By virtue of the fact that the capstans are driven in the oppositedirections, it is evident that the capstan 20 tends to force the coreunit I8 tightly in the semicircular grooves 16-15 provided in theperiphery of the capstan 2|, and likewise the capstan 2| tends to forcethe core unit I8 tightly within the semicircular grooves 13-13 of thecapstan 20, in 'whichcase each capstan istending to aid the companioncapstan in obtaining a tight grip on the core unit I8, and thus advanceit through the twisting head I3 at the desired rate of speed. Thealternating arrangement of the core unit I8 as it passes from capstan 20to capstan 2| and vice versa serves to prevent the core unit fromslipping in the semicircular grooves of the capstans as the flyer unitI4 twists the conductors I--|0 together to form the close spiralcomposite core I8.

After the core unit I8 passes back and forth over the capstans 20 and 2|in the manner described above, it is directed to the guide pulley 22 andthence to the pulley 23 rotatably mounted on the distributor nut 24,which pulley serves to lay the core unit I8 evenly on the windingsurface of the takeup reel 25. The nut 24 is slidably mounted on thetubular support 38 and a rod 91 mounted parallel to the support 33 andis caused to reciprocate between the flanges of the takeup reel 25 by atraversing mechanism presently to be described.

The ring gear 94 rotatably mounted on the trunnion I8 also engages anidler gear I00 secured on the end of a shaft IOI rotatably mounted in asuitable boss provided on the end member 35 and having a pinion I02secured on the opposite end thereof. The pinion I02 engages an idlergear I03 secured on the end of a shaft I04 rotatably mounted in the endmember 35 and having an idler pinion I secured on the opposite endthereof. The idler pinion I05 meshes with an idler gear 05 rotatablymounted on the end member 35, which idler gear meshes with a gear I01secured on the end of a traversing shaft IIO which is rotatably mountedwithin the tubular support 38 of the flyer unit I4. The shaft 0 isprovided with an enlarged body portion III having a conventionaltraversing thread I I2 (Fig. 5) cut therein.

The traversing thread 2 slidably engages the arcuate-shaped end of afinger 3 (Fig. 4) secured to a cylindrical body portion I I4 of a threadfollower H5. The body portion 4 is slidably positioned in a bore H5provided in a body portion III of the distributor nut 24. Thearcuateshaped end of the finger H3 is maintained in engagement with thetraversing thread M2 by a spring I I8 positioned between the body I I4'and the end of a nut I20 threadedly mounted in the end of the bore 8. Apair of spaced supports |2|--|2I are formed on the body portion II'I soas to straddle the nut I20 and have horizontally aligned bores I22--|22provided therethrough for receiving self-lubricating bushings I23I23.The bushings I23I23 slidably engage the rod 91 mounted in a parallelposition with respect to the support 38 by means of a bracket I- formedintegrally with the end member and a bracket I3I secured to the verticalleg of an angle-shaped support I32 formed integrally with the end member35. The tubular support 38 has a portion of its wall cut away betweenthe bracket I3I and the bracket I30 to provide an opening I29 in whichthe finger II3 rides as the follower H5 and the nut 24 are reciprocatedas a result of the rotation of the shaft H0 and the traversing threadH2.

The system of gears comprising the gears I00, I02, I03, I05, I08 and I0I(Figs. 1 and 4) is arranged to rotate the shaft H0 and its traversingthread H2 at a speed which will reciprocate the distributor nut 24' at arate which will lay a given size core unit, such as the core unit I8being advanced at a given rate of speed by the capstans 20 and 2| evenlyacross the Winding diameter of the takeup reel 25. Obviously, thissystem of gears may be arranged to suit the particular size of the unitto be distributed on the takeupreel, and also to suit any change in therate at which the unit is being advanced by the capstans 20 and 2|.

The system of gears mounted on the left face of the end member 35 isenclosed by a housing I33 (Fig. 1) formed integrally with the end memberand a cover plate I34 removably secured to the housing. Likewise, theintermediate idler gears I02 and I03 are enclosed by a housing I35formed integrally with the lower end member 30 and a cover I38 removablysecured on the housing J35. The housings and their respective coversserve to retain. a quantity of lubricant around the gears enclosedthereby and further prevent the lubricant from flying oil the gears asthe flyer unit I4 is rotated. In addition, the housing prevents the gearlubricant from getting on the 1 core unit I8 as it is advanced into theflyer unit and as it passes around the capstans 20 and 2| disposedtherein.

The support I32 is provided with a hub portion I31 (Fig. l) which isaligned with the central axis of the flyer unit I4 and has a rotatablecenter I38 designed to engage a central tapered bore (not shown)provided in the left hand side of the takeup reel 25; The right handside of the takeup reel 25 is supported by a tapered center I40 formedintegrally with an annular flange I4I rigidly secured on the end of areel driving shaft I42. The flange MI is provided with a spring-pressedplunger I43 which engages a hole (not shown) provided in the right handflange of the takeup reel 25 to drive the takeup reel 25 when the shaftI42 is rotated. The shaft I42 extends horizontally through the standard4| and has secured on the opposite end thereof a differential gearmechanism I45 (Fig. 2) whose operation is controlled by an externallydisposed induction type torque motor I46. The shaft I42 is driven by thecombined action of the motor 41 which drives the flyer unit I4 and thetorque motor I46 which controls the operation of the differential gearmechanism I45, so that as the winding operation of the reel proceedsfrom the empty reel to a full reel, the speed of rotation of the reelprogressively decreases so as to maintain uniform tension on the coreunit I8 as it is taken up by the reel.

For a more complete understanding as to how the combined operation ofthe main driving motor 51 and the differential gear mechanism I45provides constant tension on the core unit I being taken up by the reel25, attention is directed to G. E. Henning et al. Patent 2,338,848,issued January 11, 1944. Inasmuch as the differential gear mechanismI45, included in the present disclosure, operates in a manner identicalwith that described in the above-mentioned patent, it is believed thatfurther description of the operation of this ap-- paratus is notrequired.

It should be noted that since the core unit It is distributed on' thetakeup reel 25 by the traversing thread I II and the distributor nut 26mounted on the flyer unit, it is not necessary to reciprocate the shaftM2 in the manner described in the above-mentioned patent in order todistribute the core unit I 6 evenly on the reel. However, in order toinsert an empty reel in the flyer unit I 6 or to remove a full reel fromthe flyer unit, it is necessary that the shaft 32 be manuallyreclprocable to the extent that the tapered end IdIImay be propelled orrepelled sufficiently to permit such operations to be performed on thereel 25. To

I accomplish the required reciprocation of the shaft I52, a propellingand repelling mechanism I50 (Figs. 2 and 3) is rigidly secured on theend of a hub I5I provided on a member I52 forming a part of thedifferential gear mechanism I655.

The propelling and repelling mechanism I50 (Figs. 2 and 3) consists of asupport I56 rigidly secured on the huh I 5| by means of a counterboreI55 provided on one end thereof and has a bore I51 provided thereinsubstantially equal to the diameter of the shaft I42. A nut I60 isslidably positioned within the bore I51 and is provided with an internalthread I6I which engages a threaded stud I62 rotatably secured on thefree end of the shaft I42. A ring I63 is mounted on the end of thesupport I56 and is provided with a bore therethrough which issubstantially smaller than the bore I51, thereby causing an annularportion thereof to project inwardly beyond the bore I51 provided in thesupport I56, and engage a peripheral shoulder I64 formed on a tubularbody portion I65 of the nut I60. The right face of the ring I63 isprovided with a plurality of V-shaped teeth I66I66 designed to engageidentically shaped teeth I61I61 provided on the left face of aretractable ring I10.

The teeth I61-I61 of the ring I16 are maintained in engagement with theteeth I66I 66 of the ring I63 by a plurality of springs I1I-I1Ipositioned between the right face of the ring I10 and the bottom ofcounterbores I12-I12 provided in a hub portion I13 of ahand wheel I16keyed on the body portion I65 of the nut I60. The ring I10 may bewithdrawn from engagement with the ring I63 by means of a knob I16rotatably mounted in a bore provided in an annular flange member I11against the outer face of the hub I13 of the hand wheel I14. The flangeI11 has a, plurality of studs I80I80 secured equidistantly around itsperiphery which slidably engage and extend through complementary boresISI-I6I provided in the hub I13 to horizontally aligned bores providedin the ring I10, in which the bores of the ends of the studs 80 arerigidly secured.

A ring I05 is rigidly secured in the counterbore I55 and is providedwith an ear I86 which projects inwardly from the bore therethrough andslidably engages a groove I81 cut in the stud I62. The stud I62 isrotatably mounted in the end of the shaft I62 because the mechanism I50is driven directly by the flyer unit It at a constant rate of speedwhile the speed of rotation of the shaft I132 must vary as the windingdiameter of the takeup reel increases from an empty reel to a full reel.The ring I66 serves to prevent rotation of the stud I62 with respect tothe support I56 when the nut 'I62 is rotated by a turning motion of thehand wheel I16. When the hand wheel I14 is turned in a clockwisedirection, the shaft I62 and the reel engaging center I40 secured on theend thereof are moved to the left, and vice versa (Figs. 1, 2 and 3).

The teeth I65 and I61 are arranged on the faces of the rings I63 andI10, respectively, so that there will be a slipping, ratchet-actionbetween the rings I63 and I10 when the hand wheel I16 is rotated in aclockwise direction (Fig. 3), thereby causing the center I66 to move tothe left and engage the center hole of the takeup reel 25, but will lockwith each other and prevent the hand wheel from being rotated in acounterclockwise direction to retractthe center I40 from the reel 25unless the knob I16 is first actuated to draw the ring I16 toward thehub I13 of the hand wheel against the action of the compression springsIII-III. The teeth I66--I66 and I61I61 serve as a latch arrangement forthe hand wheel I15 and prevent rotation thereof when the hand wheel isbeing rotated with the flyer unit It and the differential gear mechanismI65. This is in effect a safety feature which prevents the hand wheelfrom being rotated to repel the shaft I42 so as to retract the center I60 from the reel 25 during the operation of the flyer.

Since a one-direction slipping action is provided between the supportI56 and the hand wheel I14, it is believed to be obvious that when thesupport I56 first starts to rotate with the flyer, the hand wheel I14possesses such mass'that it will slip and lag behind the support when itstarts to rotate. Likewise, if the hand wheel is being rotated with thesupport I56 and the flyer and support are brought to a substantiallysudden stop, the hand wheel will develop such inertia that it willcontinue to rotate until the slipping friction of the rings I63 and, I10overcome the inertia thereof. In the first case, the slipping of thehand wheel will draw the reel shaft to the left and thereby disengage orpartially disengage the center Hi0 from the reel. In the second case,the continued rotation of the hand wheel will drive the center I60 hardinto-the reel and thereby make disengagement of the center from the reelvery diflicult.

To overcome this condition, a stud I90 is threadedly mounted in a tappedbore provided in the knob I16 (Fig. 3) and has secured on the endthereof a cylindrical head I9I arranged to move freely in the tubularbody portion I65. A ring I92 is secured in the end 'of the tubular bodyportion I65 of the nut I60 and is provided with an internally disposedear I93 which slidably engages a longitudinal groove I94 cut in the studI90, thereby preventing the stud I90 and the head I9I from turnin whenthe knob IlIi-is turned.

It is believed to be apparent from the above .de--

scription that the hand wheel I14 cannot be turned in either directionand thereforeno sllpping action can occur between the hand wheel I14 andthe support I56 when the head ISI is clamped tightly against the leftface of the ring I 32 by the knob I and the stud I90. This is due to thefact that when the knob I16 is turned in a clockwise direction, it drawsthe stud I90 to the right which causes the head [9| to abut the ring I02and thereby clamp the flange III tightly against the hub I13 of the handwheel I14. To place the hand wheel I14 and the ring I10 in a rotatablecondition, the knob I16 must first be turned in a counterclockwisedirection until the stud I90 and its head I9I are moved to the left adistance sufficient to permit the ring I10 to be retracted by the knobagainst the action of the springs I'll-I-II and thereby disengage itsteeth I67 from the teeth I66 on the ring I63.

A spring I95 is positioned in the tubular body portion I65 between theend of the stud I62 and the head I9I and surrounds a post I96 secured tothe head I9I and extending therefrom into a bore provided in the end ofthe stud I62. The spring I95 serves to take up any backlash in thethreaded connection between the nut I60 and the stud I62.

A pair of curved supports 200-200 (Figs. 1 and 4) are spacedlypositioned on the flyer unit I4 so as to engage the periphery of theflanges of the takeup reel 25. The supports are provided only as a meansfor temporarily supporting the reel in the fiyer during the loading andunloading of the reel therein. The curved supports are arranged tosupport the reel in the fiyer when the tubular members 31 and 38 arehorizontally aligned with the rotating axis of the fiyer so that thecentral apertures of the reel 25 (not shown) are almost in line with thetapered reel supporting centers I3! and I00.

By supporting the reel in this manner, the tapered center I40, as it ismoved to the left by rotation of the hand wheel I14, will engage therespective reel aperture and drive the reel to the left until theopposite central aperture properly engages the tapered center I31whereupon the reel is automatically lifted off the supports 200-200 andbecomes rotatably supported in the flyer. When it is desired to removethe reel from the flyer, the flyer mustbe positioned so the supportswill be under the reel, whereupon the center I40 may be withdrawn fromthe reel aperture thereby letting the reel drop gradually onto thesupports, from which the reel may be removed by suitable hoisting means.

The above-described twisting apparatus operates as follows:

Assuming that the reel driving shaft I42 has been repelled by t e handwheel I14 so as' to retract the center I40 to its outermost position, anempty reel 25 is positioned on the supports 200-200 and the hand wheelis manually rotated in a clockwise direction until the reel is rotatablypositioned on the supporting centers I34 and I40. It will be assumedthat a plurality of conductors, such as conductors I0-I0 have been drawnfrom a suitable supply (not shown) and positioned over the guide rollersi2-I2, threaded through the bore provided in the twisting head I3 andthe trunnion I9 together with the cord I5 to the capstans 20 and M, andpassed alternately around the periphery of the capstans 20 and 2|, fromthe capstan 20 to the guide pulley 22 and thence to the pulley 23angularly mounted on the dis- 10 tributor nut 24 from which theconductors Iii-I0 and the cord II are directed and secured to the takeupreel 25.

The motor 41 is then energized by suitable control means (not shown) toplace the entire twisting apparatus in operation, that is, the ilyer I4,the capstans 20 and 2|, the distributing nut 24 and the serving head Ilall are operating in timed relation with respect to each other. Thecapstans 20 and2l advance the conductors I0-I0 continuously over theguide pulleys I2-I2 positioned on the guiding member II so as to directthe conductors at an acute angle toward the twisting head I3. Thetwisting head I3, which rotates with the flyer l4, grips the conductorsI0-I0 tightly and causes them to be twisted around the cord I5. Theguide pulleys I2-I 2 are arranged adjacent to the twisting head so thatthe twisting action imparted to each of the conductors is checked by itsrespective guide pulley, thereby causing the conductors to be twistedtightly together at a point close to the twistin head.

The position of the restraining member 29 is adjusted so that itsconical end 30 engages the conductors I0-I0 at the twisting point,thereby preventing the twisting point from surging back and forthbetween the conical end 30 and the tw sting head I3. This arrangement ofthe guide pulleys and the restraining member with respect to thetwisting head causes the conductors to be twisted together to form thecomposite close spiral core I6 (Fig. 7). The speed of rotation .of theflyer unit l4 and the speed at which the capstans 20 and 2i are drivenare so arranged with respect to each other, that the flyer I4 by meansof its twisting head I3 will form the close spiral core I6, that is, thespirals formed by the individual conductors I0 I 0 will lay against eachother throughout the entire length of the core I6.

The capstans 20 and 2I are driven by the change gear mechanism 50 at theproper rate of speed and in the proper direction to advance the core I6to a serving head I1 by means of which the strands 34-34 are spirallyserved around the composite core I6 to form the textile covered coreunit I8. The core unit I8 is passed alternately around substantialportions of the peripheries of the capstans 20 and 2I in order to securegood traction between the capstans and the core unit I8. The core unitI8 passes from the capstan 20 to the guide pulley 22 and thence to thepulley 23 rotatably mounted on the distributor nut 24. The traversingshaft H0 is also driven by the change gear mechanism 50 and in timedrelation with the speed at which the capstans 20 and 2I are driven sothat the core unit I 8 will be evenly distributed on the reel 25.

Due to the fact that the core unit I8 is being delivered by the capstans20 and 2i and the distributor nut 24 and the reel 25 at a constant rate,it is necessary that the reel 25 be rotated at a correspondinglydecreasing speed as the winding diameter of the reel increases from anempty reel to a full reel. The tension on the core unit I8 being takenup by the reel 25 must remain substantially constant throughout thewinding operation .of the reel from an empty reel to a full reel. Toaccomplish this result, the reel driving shaft I42 is driven jointly bythe flyer unit I4 and the differential gear mechanism I45, the operationof which is controlled by the induction type torque motor I46. Thecharacteristics of the motor I46 are such that, as its speed decreases,its torque increases, and it is this characteristic of the torque motorthat is utilized to maintain a constant tension on the core unit itbeing taken up by the reel 25.

The above-described fiyer unit possesses several distinct advantagesover fiyer units in use heretofore. First, since the twisting head l3 ofthe fiyer unit it must grip the core unit it very tightly in .order totwist the conductors ill-i together in such manner as to form a closespiral core, it is necessary to provide a pair of driven capstans on thefiyer to obtain the pull on the core unit l8 required to advance thecore unit through the bore .of the twisting head. In addition, themanner in which the core unit I8 is wrapped alternately around theperipheries of gether, means provided in the fiyer unit for rotatablysupporting a takeup reel for the twisted conductors including a fixedcenter for rotatably supporting one side of the takeup reel, and arotatable shaft having its free end arranged to sup port the other sideof the reel and rotate the reel when the shaft is rotated, means forpropelling and repelling the shaft to cause the supporting the capstansZ0 and El provides the best traction 7 obtainable from two capstans usedto advance such a core unit it through the tight fitting bore of thetwisting head it.

Secondly, instead .of providing externally disposed means forreciprocating a takeup reel back and forth within the fiyer unit itself,which operation necessitates the use of considerable equipment and floorspace, as well as requiring considerable power, the fiyer unit it hasthe takeup reel maintained in a stationary position with respect tolateral movement thereof. The core unit 58 is evenly distributed overthe winding surface of the reel by means of the traversing shaft and thedistributor nut 2% carried on the fiyer itself. This type of fiyer unitrequires a minimum amount of floor space and will eliminate the need forexternally disposed apparatus for reciprocating the takeup reel.

While the above-described apparatus is particularly adapted to twistinga plurality of insulated conductors together to form a close spiral coreunit, it may be readily adapted to twist together varioustypes offilamentary strands to form units suitable for many other purposes.Therefore, the invention is limited only by the scope of the appendedclaims;

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for twisting a plurality of conductors together to forma composite close spiral core, which comprises a fiyer rotatable aboutits central axis, externally disposed means for rotating the fiyer at aconstant rate of speed, a tubular twisting head positioned on the flyerfor twisting a plurality of conductors together, means associated withthe twisting means for causing the conductors to be twisted into acomposite close spiral core when the flyer is rotated. means positionedadjacent to the twisting means for serving a textile covering around thecomposite core to form a core unit, externally disposed means forrotating the serving means about the twisting head and the compositecore, means for continuously advancing the core unit through thetwisting means to advance the conductors to the twisting means, meansdisposed along the central axis of the fiyer for rotatably supporting atakeup reel for th core unit being advanced through the twisting headincluding a fixed center for rotatably supporting one side of the reeland a rotatable shaft having its free end arranged to support theopposite side of the takeup reel, said shaft being provided with meansadjacent the free end thereof for rotating the reel when the shaft isrotated, means for propelling and repelling the shaft along its axis tocause the supporting means and the reel rotating means to engage ordisengage the reel as desired, means provided on the fiyer fordistributing the core unit evenly on the takeup reel, and means for anddriving end thereof to engage or disengage the reel as desired, andmeans for locking the propelling and repelling means when the end of theshaft is in engagement with the reel to prevent the propelling andrepelling means from being operated by the rotation of the fiyer.

3. Twisting apparatus, which comprises a ro= tatable fiyer unit, meansassociated with the fiyer unit for twisting a plurality of conductorstogether, means provided on the fiyer unit for supporting a takeup reelfor the twisted conductors including a fixed center for rotatablysupporting one side of the takeup reel, a rotatable shaft hav= ing oneend thereof arranged to support the other side of the reel and rotatethe reel when the shaft is rotated, a differential gear mechanismrotatable with the fiyer and arranged to effect a variable speed drivebetween the fiyer and the shaft, a hand wheel mounted on the end of thedifferential gear mechanism and arranged to engage the other end of theshaft and cause the shaft to be propelled and repelled as desired whenthe hand wheel is rotated and ratchet means arranged to lock the handwheel against rotation when the fiyer unit is being rotated.

4. In twisting apparatus comprising a rotatable fiyer for twisting aplurality of conductors to gether to form a composite core when saidflyer is rotated, means provided on the fiyer for advancing theconductors to the fiyer and a takeup reel for the composite core, theimprovement which comprises astationary center post for rotatablysupporting one side of the takeup reel for the core produced by thefiyer, a reel drivin shaft rotatably supported on the -flyer and havingits free end arranged for supporting the other side of the reel and forlocking the reel to the shaft for rotation therewith, means connected tothe opposite end of the shaft for imparting lateral movement to theshaft so as to cause the end thereof to move toward or away from theadjacent side of the takeup reel as desired, and means associated withthe lateral movement imparting means for locking said imparting meansagainst movement during the rotation of the fiyer.

5. An apparatus for rotatably supporting a takeup reel having afrustoconical bore at each end thereof on the central axis of a fiyerarranged to twist a plurality of conductors together when rotated aboutits central axis, which comprises a pair of rotatable supports spacedlypositioned along .the central axis of the fiyer unit for engaging thefrustoconical bores of a takeup reel for the twisted conductors, meansprovided on one of said supports for locking the reel for rotationtherewith, means for driving the support having the locking meansthereon to rotate the takeup reel at a constantly decreasing speed asthe twisted conductors are taken up on the reel, and means forpropelling and repelling the driven support along its axis to cause saidsupport to engage or disengage the adjacent bore of the reel as desired.

6. An apparatus for rotatably supporting a takeup reel on the centralaxis of a flyer rotatable to twist a plurality of conductors together toform a composite core, which comprises a fixed center for rotatablysupporting one side of the reel, a rotatable shaft havin its free endarranged to support the other side of the takeup reel, said shaft beingprovided with means on the free end thereof for locking the reel forrotation with the shaft, variable speed driving means for rotating saidshaft to rotate said reel at a constantly decreasing speed as the coreis taken up thereby, means provided on the opposite end of the shaft forpropelling and repelling the shaft to cause the supporting means andlocking means of said shaft to selectively engage or disengage the reelas desired, and means for locking the propelling and repelling meansagainst movement when the flyer is rotated.

'7. An apparatus for rotatably supporting a takeup reel having a taperedbore provided on each end thereof in a flyer rotatable about its centralaxis to twist a plurality of conductors together to form a compositecore, which comprises a fixed center for engaging the tapered boreprovided in one end of the takeup reel, a rotatable shaft having meansprovided on the free end thereof for engaging the tapered bore providedin the opposite end of the takeup reel, means associated with the boreengaging end of said shaft for locking the reel to the shaft forrotation therewith, means connected to the other end of the shaft forpropelling and repelling the shaft along its axis to cause thesupporting means and locking means to engage or disengage the respectivebore of the takeup reel as desired, means provided on the propelling andrepelling means for preventing the shaft from being repelled when theflyer is rotated, and means provided on the propelling and repellingmeans for preventing the support on the end of the shaft from beingdriven into too tight an engagement with the respective tapered bore ofthe takeup reel.

8. An apparatus for rotatably supporting a takeup reel having a centraltapered bore at each side thereof on the central axis of a flyer typestrand twisting apparatus having means for delivering the strand to thetakeup reel at a fixed rate, which comprises a rotatable center providedon one end of the flyer for engaging the central bore provided on oneside of a takeup reel to be supported on the flyer, a shaft rotatablymounted at the opposite end of the flyer and having its free endarranged to engage the central bore provided in the opposite side of thereel, spring-pressed means provided adjacent to said free end of theshaft for locking the reel to the shaft for rotation therewith, meansfor rotating the shaft at a constantly decreasing speed as the windingdiameter of the reel increases from an empty reel to a full reel, a nutrotatably mounted at the end of the shaft and threadedly engaging theend of the shaft, a hand wheel for turning the nut to propel or repelthe shaft along its axis as desired, a ratchet type clutch providedbetween the hand wheel and the nut to permit turning of the hand wheelafter the end of the shaft has fully engaged the central bore of thereel thereby preventing the end of the shaft from becoming jammed in thecentral bore of the reel, and means for locking the ratchet clutch afterthe reel is properly supported between the center and end of the shaftto prevent movement of the hand wheel when the fiyer is rotated.

ESTYLE D.'HANSON.

GEORGE E. HENNING.

OSCAR G. NELSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

. I UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

